Giggs - Guess Who's Back

Following a torrid few weeks for the Man United left winger, now Giggs returns in defiant glory. Not even revelations of double-crossing his own brother by sleeping with his sister-in-law and then paying to have an illicit unborn lovechild terminated has stopped the Welsh footballing sensation from telling the world "Guess Who's Back". Bravo.

Giggs - Take Your Hats Off (Mixtape)

You have to hand it to G-Unit DJ Whoo Kid for supporting artists from over here recently. He's co-signed Skepta's excellent Mike Lowery and shown Klash love. It wasn't long ago that anyone who was anyone in the US turned their noses up at British rap.

It's a shame that disabled-tongued Giggs gets a look in. I have it on good authority that either he or his management doesn't allow less popular acts to support his live shows. You weren't always linking up with high-profile DJs, Giggs. Anyhow...

Giggs - Take Your Hats Off

Lloyd Banks - Start It Up feat. Sway & Giggs (UK Remix)

Sway and Giggs jump on part-nationalised Lloyds Bank's current club banger Start It Up.

Lloyd Banks - Start It Up feat. Sway & Giggs (UK Remix)

Devlin - Shot Music feat. Giggs (Video)

If Marshall Mathers was born about a decade later, in Dagenham and made grime today, he could well sound something like Devlin. Or that could just be a lazy man's join the dots, tying the Caucasian link.

Either way, this is a new tune he's got with the infamous Giggs, who, like it or not, is likely to do big things with his first official release on XL Recordings.

It's interesting to hear the tempo on this - clocking in around 80bpm, instead of the 140bpm typically associated with grime. Mind you, it's probably already got a name like "road rap"... or "grime hop"... or...

Police Cancel Giggs Tour

From the Guardian:

"British rapper Giggs has had his UK tour pulled after police warned promoters over safety fears.

Giggs, from Peckham, London, and recently signed to XL Recordings, was due to play 10 dates starting tomorrow in Birmingham. However, police confirmed that they warned organisers about security concerns after being contacted by the promoters for Giggs' London date on 4 March at the O2 Islington Academy.

An official statement read: 'Police advised that there were concerns about potential risks to the event, if it took place. It is routine for police to work with licensed venues on a regular basis to identify and manage risk assessments for forthcoming performances, but the decision to cancel an event is a matter for the venue itself.'

This isn't the first time Giggs has run into trouble with the law. In 2003, he spent two years in prison for possessing firearms without licence. Ever since, the rapper has complained that Operation Trident has followed his movements, informing venues and record labels of his past in an attempt to shut down his musical career.

Giggs recently told the Observer's Paul Morley that Trident contacted XL on the day before he was signed to scare them off. He claimed people from his label were 'shaken up' after getting the call and were unsure whether to offer him a record deal.

Giggs believes that police phoned venues before the start of the tour, exaggerating security risks.

He told BBC 1Xtra: 'This is how it's been from the beginning, it's just that everyone is hearing about it now. Before it used to be low key, people didn't really believe me.'

Considering his backstory, though, this kind of publicity may not be too harmful.

As the rapper himself said: 'I just want to thank police for all this great promotion that they're giving me, all these cancellations, which are making me more powerful.'"

Giggs feat. B.O.B - Don't Go There

If you haven't heard Giggs' music, then you've most likely heard of him at least. Let's face it, he's not exactly a dexterous rapper. However, he's probably got the biggest buzz of any, and I use the term loosely, hip hop artist in the UK. After shifting ungodly numbers of self-produced mixtapes, he's now signed to revered independent XL Recordings.

I'm not interested in critiquing this track in any way - mostly because I'm pretty sure that on the off-chance Hollow Man did find out I'd badmouthed him, he'd probably have me in a round of fisticuffs. The collaboration with one of XXL Magazine's Freshmen 10, Atlanta's B.O.B, is pretty interesting though. I personally think it's a good look and a preferable version of crossover rap/hip hop/grime/wot do u call it? to the 4-4 house nonsense that started polluting the airwaves in this country last year.

Not sure about his "Grrrrrr!" adlibs, mind.